Ukraine’s Zelensky hopes for new peace talks with Russia, US by early November

• Zelensky said Ukraine backs US-proposed three-way talks with Russia and the United States, at negotiator level, as soon as possible and no later than early November.
• He said Russia also supports a trilateral meeting, after talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.
• Kyiv supports any ceasefire ideas, including an energy ceasefire and humanitarian steps, as concerns grow that Washington may be easing support for Ukraine.

KYIV - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct 21 that Ukraine supported a US proposal for three-way talks with Russia and the United States at the level of negotiators to be held as soon as possible, preferably no later than early November.

Zelensky, speaking to journalists on WhatsApp as he returned to Kyiv from Norway, said he had spoken to US officials after presidential envoy Steve Witkoff’s talks in St Petersburg with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We have received feedback that... Russia supports a trilateral meeting at the level of our (negotiating) teams,” Zelensky said.

“The American side has proposed holding it as soon as possible, and we support that... The Ukrainian side has been in contact with its American partners. They will do everything to ensure that the meeting takes place as early as possible, in November. I think no later than early November.”

Zelensky said that Kyiv supported “any proposals for a ceasefire, an end to the war, an energy ceasefire, as well as humanitarian initiatives”.

Earlier, the Kremlin said Putin has agreed to resume US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine as soon as November.

Witkoff met Putin a day after holding talks with Zelensky in Norway amid concerns in Kyiv and among its allies that the United States was backing away from Ukraine. REUTERS